please answer, i need help..

[breyandtthew 5]

Hi all.. Do you know or have you ever heard of anybody been denied of citizenship because of being committed in a mental facility.. ? I am just really so worried... I was in a mental health facility for 72 hrs, basically for evaluation.. it was basically a psychiatric hold or 5150.. I have yet to read somebody's experience who tick yes to that question and was approved.. it makes me worried that that that is something so hard to overcome and approval is hard to obtain.. i would appreciate response from people who have experienced this or know someone or could refer me to someone's post and has been approved.. i cant seem to find any thats been approved regardless the ticked yes please help!!

[Margaret&Beau 4]

I just want to make sure I understand - you did tick "yes" to be completely honest on your application? If so, I would not necessarily be afraid if the question were to come up. The simplest answer, and likely true, is that you were depressed at the time. The majority of human beings on this planet experience sadness at one point or another in their lives. I am in the psychiatric health care field, and believe me I KNOW. Be honest, but remember you don't need to offer up too much information. You went through a rough patch, you dealt with it and moved on. DO not feel like you have to go into great detail on the topic and you will be fine.

[breyandtthew 5]

I havent sent out my application yet. But definitely plan on ticking yes to the question. Its worrying me because nobody just cant talk me out into answering no to that instead,, I dont wanna be caught in a lie, obviously is the reason. I have the discharge summary, you think I should attach it? it says on there.. primary hospitalization : Suicidal, depression, agitation ... Primary diagnosis (at discharge) : Just the Depression.Im worried on how bad this impacts my naturalization application.. I am definitely legally competent, in fact I wasnt suicidal then.. I texted something to my husband that made him think I was gonna hurt myself and we were not cool with each other at that time, and he called the cops on me

[JimmyHou 610]

Hi all.. Do you know or have you ever heard of anybody been denied of citizenship because of being committed in a mental facility.. ? I am just really so worried... I was in a mental health facility for 72 hrs, basically for evaluation.. it was basically a psychiatric hold or 5150.. I have yet to read somebody's experience who tick yes to that question and was approved.. it makes me worried that that that is something so hard to overcome and approval is hard to obtain.. i would appreciate response from people who have experienced this or know someone or could refer me to someone's post and has been approved.. i cant seem to find any thats been approved regardless the ticked yes please help!!

Have you read any cases where someone ticked yes and was denied for that reason? I never have.

The purpose of that question is to help ensure that you have the ability to understand the applocation, the oath, and the responsibilities of citizenship. They are trying to identify people who may be mentally incompetent (by the legal definition). These are people who would not be allowed to serve on juries, sign legal contracts, etc. It doesn't sound like you fall into this group. If you can present any documentation of your stay at the facility and the reasons for it, I don't think uou'll have any trouble. If you want to be extra sure (I don't think this is necessary) you can visit a psychiatrist and explain the situation and ask him for a letter of evaluation (may take a few sessions and be expensive).

[Margaret&Beau 4]

Another point to mention on this topic. Your health records are HIPAA protected. There is no "master file" that shows who all has been in a Psych ward, or received psychiatric treatment. It's protected information.

[breyandtthew 5]

i figured its Hippa protected. However, police having been called in and were the ones to transport me the behavioral, i would think they can have access to them

[Margaret&Beau 4]

I highly doubt there is a police report on that. You should check first.

[breyandtthew 5]

yes i checked, they had to make a case/incident report for the committal..

[JimmyHou 610]

I highly doubt there is a police report on that. You should check first.

If the OP was detained by police and "escorted" to such a facility then there certainly would be a police report.

If the OP needed help and was given a friendly ride by the police then there may or may not have been a report.

Either way, it doesn't matter whether or not there is a police report. As the OP pointed out, the application asks directly if he/ she was ever in a mental institution. The OP is rightly answering yes.

This shouldn't be a problem unless the interviewer has cause to question the OPs mental capacity at the current time.

If this stay was court ordered then the OP should get the relevant court disposition papers.

Edited June 14, 2015 by JimmyHou

[breyandtthew 5]

I was reading our state laws regarding this matter, and figured that i may actually answer no to this question given that I was only on a 72 hour hold. I read on the meaning of "commitment to a mental facility", and it doesnt sound like it applies to me . However, I will tick yes and attach a brief explanation of the BIG MISUNDERSTANDING on how i ended up there..Thank you all for the answers, and more power to VJ. God bless us!

and for clarification - no questions on whether or not there was a case report for it. I went to the police department itself, and to no surprise. yep, there is a case report for it.